The professional sphere increasingly views talent as a primary competitive enabler of a business. As more companies expand globally and shift their focus to high-growth regions, they face a growing skills and talent gaps for a variety of reasons [1]. People, are increasingly seen as a source of competitive advantage, where without the appropriate talent pool, the business might just not be a success [2,3]. Continue reading Employer Branding: Strategy & Perennial Business Philosophy

I love modeling. That is, fitting pieces of concepts that build a collage of sorts with neat corners. I have been contemplating if I could fit Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as a language system into Wilber’s All Quadrant All Levels (AQAL) model. Models derived from general theories are not always practical, but as Hjemslev (1970:105) argues of creating a general theory of linguistic structure:

“we must start with some definition of language of the kind we have been considering, because the establishment of such a theory is not simply, or even principally, a matter of experience, but rather of calculation. Experience is no adequate basis for a theory of linguistic structure: it would be impossible to go through all existing linguistic texts, and, moreover, it would be futile, since the theory must be valid not only for the texts that have been written or spoken up to now, but also for those that will be written or spoken in the future. Continue reading Systemic functional linguistics (SFL) in All Quadrants All Levels (AQAL) model

The advancements made in the field of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the past few decades that has redefined our relationship towards information, has in the same process redefined the status and role of the city library in our midst. With all things quick and digital, why even bother visiting a concrete building that houses dusty shelves of well worn books? Continue reading Reconnaissant Renaissance

The turn of the new year was marked by the winter solstice on 21 December 2014 in the northern hemisphere. The days prior to the winter solstice had me occupied with reading about semiotics, or sign study.

Where I had previously only been accustomed to the semiotics movement within cognitive linguistics of Saussurean structuralism and Piercean pragmatism, my interest in physics has led to a likewise broadening of literature reads to now include semiotics in nature.

$1: Uppsala is a beautiful city isn’t it? It’s the first time that I’m here. I’ve always heard about it being a university-city, because of its history and how it’s really the true capital of Sweden, housing the first of the Swedish universities, where Roman Catholicism had a role to play in it being so educationally forward. Continue reading Uppsala, Sweden

My first observation in finding my aisle seat on west Sweden’s Blå Tåget was that the passenger with the window seat could come and go without much bother to the one seated along the aisle. Like large parlour armchairs, the seats on the train are generous in depth and width.

The Blue Train opened in December of 2011, as a comfortable, efficient way to travel between the cities of Gothenburg and Uppsala. The interiors of the vintage train were refurbished in deep velvet blue upholstery set against the original dark wood of the cabins in the style of the 1960s. Modern touches were added to the cabins to accommodate free wi-fi onboard. And in each carriage, bottled sparkling water placed with a wicker basket of fruit and chocolate stands on a coffee table next to the cabinet for coats. Continue reading The Blue Train – Sweden’s business commuters choice

If there was a favourite place to withdraw when in Singapore, it would for the moment be the expansive Marina Bay area overlooking the waters, marked by an urban space that lacks a crowd during office hours. The slowly undulating movements of the river water taxis navigating the bay lends a different rhythm to the adrenaline rush of the skyscrapers. This difference in bio-rhythms is a contrast in symbiotic urban city living that I find interesting.

In asking for directions to get from Raffles Place (steps away from Collyer Quay) to Marina Bay Sands (MBS), I was advised by more than one person encountered, to take a taxi. I smiled and nodded and proceeded to find my way on foot, to the Marina Boulevard paseo. Continue reading Sustainable luxury in Singapore 2014

I recently found myself navigating a number of historical streets in and around the central business district of Singapore. If this somehow is an epigenetic memory or not, I don’t know, but I do find myself very much at home around here, it being the very place in Singapore as to where I want to bring my friends.

Across the outdoor patio seating of Ristorante Da Valentino in Singapore is a small spice garden. The restaurant is the venture of the Valtulina family. A place I have over time come to regard as a little home away from home, and a place I am always happy to revisit as occasions occur.

Regarding the little garden. We had actually talked ourselves into this little gem mainly in the care of Gianpiero Valtulina, or Papa Gianni, by showing a genuine interest. And while excusing himself for “its many shortcomings”, he showed us around, showed us what were to be and complained – as all true farmers at heart – about the soil, the weather, the sun, the rain and the climate in general, with a smile. Continue reading Across the outdoor patio seating of Ristorante Da Valentino in Singapore, 2014